Robinson R22 accident near Hayward, California, February 24, 1989
On February 24, 1989 at about 4:26 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N9076K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hayward, California (Hayward Muni airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF AIRPORT PERSONNEL TO ASSURE THE TAIWAY WAS FREE OF OBJECTS AFTER THE TAXIWAY WAS PAINTED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 24, 1989 · about 4:26 pm local time
- Place
- Hayward, California · Hayward Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N9076K · registry record · serial 0247
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PVT PLT & HIS INSTRUCTOR (CFI) DEPARTED OAKLAND ON A VFR INSTRUCTIONAL FLT TO HAYWARD IN A ROBINSON R22 HELICOPTER. THEY LANDED ON TAXIWAY (TWY) 2, THEN TOOK OFF FOR ANOTHER TRAFFIC PATTERN & LANDING. THE CFI THEN INSTRUCTED THE PVT PLT TO MAKE A RUNNING TAKEOFF. DRG THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN, THE HELICOPTER'S LEFT SKID STRUCK AN ALIGNMENT DEVICE WHICH WAS PROTRUDING ABOVE THE TWY SURFACE. AFTER HITTING THE DEVICE, THE HELICOPTER ENTERED A VIOLENT LEFT YAW & BECAME AIRBORNE. THE CFI WAS ABLE TO ARREST THE YAW, BUT HE COULD NOT STOP A RAPID DESCENT THAT DEVELOPED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER'S UNDERCARRIAGE, VERTICAL STABILIZER, RIGHT DOOR & FUSELAGE SKIN WERE DAMAGED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT CONTRACTORS HAD RECENTLY PAINTED THE TWY & HAD LEFT THE ALIGNMENT DEVICE PROTRUDING ABOUT 1/2 INCH ABOVE THE SURFACE OF THE TWY.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,120 hours in all; 940 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 72 in the last 30 days; 870 as pilot in command; 750 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,160 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 16, 1989; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Skyline Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: OAK Oakland CA at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:45 pm from HWD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.